That result saw Newcastle move out of the bottom three for the first time since mid-February and, with just two games left, the Magpies appear to have the momentum in the race for survival.

During the final few weeks of Steve McClaren’s reign, United looked like a team shorn of confidence and, to be brutally honest, devoid of a game plan at times.

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But Darlow, who has started each of Newcastle’s last six games following Rob Elliot’s season-ending injury, has revealed that Benitez has brought tactical intelligence to the Magpies.

Every single member of the United squad is hanging on the manager’s every word. “He has been brilliant,” Darlow said of Benitez.

“He is tactically very, very good. It is well known he is an unbelievable manager. There is a lot of respect from the players for what he has done in his past.

“Everyone is listening to his thoughts about what he wants us to do on the pitch.”

It is now four games unbeaten for Newcastle, with eight points collected during that time. Norwich City and Sunderland still both have a game in hand on United though, and Darlow knows the job is far from complete.

The Magpies must head to Aston Villa on Saturday and extend the already-relegated Second City club’s losing streak to 11 games.

If they can do that, then Darlow believes his penalty save from Cabaye could yet prove a defining moment in the season.

“In football you have different moments in your career that you remember and that will definitely be one of them if it keeps us in the division,” Darlow said of his save.

“We need to keep stepping out on to the pitch and keep doing that for the rest of the season; the only important thing is being there at the end of the season.

“That is the end goal. We need to make sure this club stays in the division.

“We have put ourselves in with a great chance now and we can salvage something and stay in this league.”